FFACTS: Identifying and mapping climatically stable macro-and microrefugia for wildlife in New Mexico

Climate refugia are areas that allow species to persist, retreat to, or colonize in what would otherwise be uninhabitable conditions. Climate refugia can be identified at local and regional scales though microrefugia may hold particular importance for their role to support species in the near-term. We conducted a comprehensive review of climate refugia literature to identify the best approach for identifying areas of importance for preserving biodiversity in New Mexico. This effort resulted in 73 candidate indicators of macro- and microrefugia that can be used in different combinations to identify areas of potential importance for preserving New Mexico Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Indicators broadly fall into two categories: Indicators that identify areas of relative climate stability and indicators that detect areas with features that can buffer local environments from regional change. Individual metrics also relate to the degree to which an area will be able to support species or its proximity to alternative suitable conditions. Following engagement with NM State wildlife partners and other experts, we are testing several methods for using these data to identify climate refugia.